Chapter 10: A seat at the table.

Adrian guided Kaia through the glass corridor, the soft hum of morning conversatiion floating around them. The office, with its clean lines and warm tones, buzzed with the low excitement that always came with a new project - and today, a new team lead.

Kaia walked beside him, composed yet quietly taking in every detail. Her heels clicked softly on the marble, her formal dress fitted and elegant, complementing her calm confidence. Adrian couldn’t help noticing that the calmness in her step was nothing like the gentle, absent - minded grace he had seen in the cafe. This was her professional skin - polished, focused, steady.

They reached the open wokspace where four team members waited, already arranged neatly around a conference table.

Adrian stepped forward with a warm tone.
“Good morning, team. As discussed, we have our new Relationship Manager joing us today - someone who will be leading our next major project. Everyone, this is Kaia.”

Smiles spread around the table.

A cheerful woman with soft blonde curls spoke first.
“Hi Kaia, I’m Amelia. It’s lovely to have you with us.”

Right beside her, a tall guy with sandy hair and a grin chimed in,
“And I’m Blake. Welcome aboard.”

The third, a poised woman with glasses - elegant in a muted grey blazer - nodded with a friendly smile.
“Charlotte. We’ve heard great things.”

Lastly, a man with sharp features and a relaxed posture raised his hand in a small wave.
“James. Looking forward to working with you.”

Kaia offered a warm, grateful smile.
“Thank you, truly. I’m excited to work with all of you.”

Adrian watched how she connected instantly - her voice soft yet firm, her presence composed yet warm. The same woman he’d watched from the cafe corner, the one who had sunlight caught in her lashes, was now standing under office lights - and she stood out effortlessly.

He cleared his throat, bringing the meeting to focus.
“We’ll have a short hi-tea gathering in the lounge area after the briefing. Just a casual welcome for Kaia so she can get to know you all better.”

“Oh, are the pastries already here?” Amelia whispered to Charlotte with excitement.
Charlotte grinned, “The good ones, I hope.”

Kaia laughed softly, the sound delicate, genuine.

Adrian noticed that too.

As everyone sat down to begin the project discussion, Kaia took her seat at the head of the table.

But none of them knew.

Not Amelia.
Not Blake.
Not Charlotte or James.
Not even Kaia herself.

Only Adrian knew…

…that he’d walked into the cafe that morning for sunflowers meant for her.

And now she was here - on his team, leading his project, sitting just a few feet away, unaware of the quiet pull destiny had already started stitching between them.